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ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ doubled-down on its two-game home stand with a 47-26 win over the Massachusetts Pirates Saturday night at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Arena.

The Sugar Skulls’ (3-3) win on Saturday officially put them past their season win total from last season, when they had a franchise-worst 2-14 record. It’s the first time ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won back-to-back games since July of 2023.

“We had to let people know this wasn’t a fluke,� said Sugar Skulls running back Jamyest Williams. “This was a big game for us to go up in the rankings. We needed this game. If we didn’t win this game, last week would’ve been a fluke.�

Despite ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ quarterback Jorge Reyna tossing two interceptions on the first two drives, the Sugar Skulls scored first with an interception returned for a touchdown by defensive back Ahmad Lyons, who front-flipped across the goal line. Lyons also recovered a fumble to end the game.

“I’ve always wanted to a flip after a pick-six,� Lyons said. “That was my first pick-six since high school, so I just wanted to add a little celebration to my pick-six.�

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Billy Back called Lyons, who also had an interception late against the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Rattlers last week, a “spark plugâ€� for the Sugar Skulls defense.

“That pick-six ignited us and that front flip he did was extra special,� Back said. “He’s been a spark plug when we need him.�

After a pair of rushing touchdowns by Williams and a failed two-point conversion, the Sugar Skulls led Massachusetts 19-14 at halftime.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ took a two-possession lead after wide receiver Jerome Buckner returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. With a 26-14 lead, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s defense forced its second turnover on downs inside the 10-yard line on the following possession.

Reyna threw a pick-six in the third quarter, but the touchdown was nixed due to an illegal blindside hit on the Pirates. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ marched down the field and capped the drive with a Williams rushing touchdown to extend its lead to 33-14. Williams is in his first season with the Sugar Skulls and has taken over over starting running back duties as Davonte Sapp-Lynch recovers from an injury.

Williams played defensive back for the South Carolina Gamecocks, before finishing his college career as a running back at Georgia State.

“He’s a little water bug for us,� Back said of Williams. “He’s so fast, you have to tell him to slow down. ... He’s just a football player. ... Jam is a stud.�

Tempers flared at the end of the drive when Pirates co-owner Jawad Yatim confronted the officials and was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct. Yatim was ejected from the game.

Pirates running back Pooka Williams, who is the fifth leading rusher in the IFL this season, and quarterback Kenji Bahar scored Massachusetts’ only two touchdowns, but ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ countered every Pirates touchdown with a score, including a touchdown catch by ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ native and former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcat Drew Dixon with a minute left in the game.

In the fourth quarter, Sugar Skills wide receiver Tripp Harrington extended his touchdown streak to four games.

Up next: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ enters a shortened week and will face the Bay Area Panthers at SAP Center in San Jose, California on Friday at 7:05 p.m., before returning home for back-to-back home games against the San Antonio Gunslingers (May 31) and the San Diego Strike Force (June 7).

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is fourth in the IFL Western Conference standings behind the Rattlers (5-1), Panthers (4-2) and the Vegas Knight Hawks (4-2).

“We gotta get something going on the road,� Back said. “I think a good showing this week will boost our confidence more. Our guys can’t get complacent with this win. It’s just the third win this season. We have a chance to get above .500 with a win and get back into the playoff race, and Bay Area is the next game.�